Constituents of Psiadia terebinthina A.J. Scott, an endemic Asteraceae from Mauritius

Kaemferol-3-methyl ether (1), quercetin-3-methyl ether (2), kaemferol-3,7-dimethyl ether (3), 3-caffeoyl quinic acid (4) and 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (5) have been isolated for the first time from the leaves of Psiadia terebinthina A.J. Scott (Asteraceae). The identity of the compounds 1-5 were confirmed by various spectroscopic methods.     

Constituents of Salvia microphylla

A new phenolic ester 2-( p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl eicosaheptanoic acid ester (1) and a known one hexacosylferulate (2) were isolated from the acetone extract of Salvia microphylla. In addition, two sesquiterpenes beta-eudesmol (3) and 8alpha-hydroxy-beta-eudesmol (4), a diterpene carnosic acid 12-methyl ether (12-methoxycarnosic acid) (5), three triterpenes erithrodiol 3-acetate, oleanolic acid, lupeol and beta-sitosterol were obtained as known compounds from this plant extract. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including one- and two- dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR and MS spectroscopies. The selected compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against standard bacterial strains, and only carnosic acid 12-methyl ether showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus at 78 microg mL(-1).     

Minor methylated pyranoamentoflavones from Calophyllum venulosum

Two new biflavonoids, pyranoamentoflavone 7-methyl ether (1) and pyranoamentoflavone 4'-methyl ether (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Calophyllum venulosum. The structures of these two new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data.     

Allergy-preventive flavonoids from Xanthorrhoea hastilis

Allergy-preventive activity was demonstrated for an extract of resins from Xanthorrhoea hastilis R. BR. in a search for allergy-preventive substances from natural sources. By bioassay-directed fractionation of this plant extract, a new flavanone, 3',5'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone (1), and two new chalcones, 3,5,2'-trihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (2) and 5,2'-dihydroxy-3,4,4'-trimethoxychalcone (3), were isolated together with five known compounds, 5'-hydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavanone (4), 3'-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavanone (5), liquiritigenin 7-methyl ether (6), 4,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (7) and sakuranetin (8). The structures of 1, 2 and 3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All of these compounds showed allergy-preventive effects.     

Anthraquinones from Morinda officinalis roots enhance adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells

To search for anti-diabetic and insulin-sensitising natural products, the effect on adipocyte differentiation was investigated by assessing fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using Oil Red O staining. Fractionation and separation of n-hexane and CHCl? fractions of Morinda officinalis (Rubiaceae) using several chromatographic methods led to the isolation of three anthraquinones, 1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone (1), alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) and rubiadin-1-methyl ether (3). Among them, alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) showed the strongest enhancing activity, followed by rubiadin-1-methyl ether (3) and 1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone (1). At a concentration of 100?μM, alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) enhanced adipocyte differentiation by up to 131% (compared to insulin-treated cells). Thus, these compounds could be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes.     

Apotirucallane and tirucallane triterpenoids from Cedrela sinensis

Nine new triterpenoids, 1-9, were isolated from the cortex of Cedrela sinensis (Meliaceae), together with six known compounds, sapelin E acetate, grandifoliolenone, azadirone, bourjotinolone A, piscidinol A, and hispidol B. The structures of 1-9 were determined by the 2D NMR experiments, chemical methods, and X-ray crystallography.     

Efficient new method for extraction and isolation of three flavonoids from Patrinia villosa Juss. by supercritical fluid extraction and high-speed counter-current chromatography

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of orotinin, orotinin-5-methyl ether and licoagrochalcone B from Patrinia villosa was performed. The optimization of parameters including pressure, temperature, modifier and sample particle size on yield was carried out using an analytical-scale SFE system. The process was then scaled up by 100 times using a preparative SFE system under the optimized conditions of 25 MPa, 45 degrees C, a sample particle size 40-60 mesh and modified CO2 with 20% methanol. The yield of the preparative SFE was 2.82% (crude extract I) and the combined yield of orotinin, orotinin-5-methyl ether and licoagrochalcone B was 0.82 mg/g of dry sample mass. Then the crude extract I was re-dissolved in methanol and methanol soluble fraction (crude extract II, 0.17%) was obtained, which was successfully isolated and separated by a preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:6:6:6, v/v/v/v) by increasing the flow-rate of the mobile phase stepwise from 1.0 to 2.0 ml/min after 3 h. The target compounds isolated and purified by HSCCC were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The separation produced total of 38.2 mg of orotinin at 99.2% purity, 19.8 mg of orotinin-5-methyl ether at 98.5% purity and 21.5 mg of licoagrochalcone B at 97.6% purity from 400 mg of the crude extract in a one-step separation. The recoveries of orotinin, orotinin-5-methyl ether and licoagrochalcone B were 91.1, 91.6 and 90.3%, respectively, and the chemical structure identification was carried out by UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

Three new and antitumor anthraquinone glycosides from Lasianthus acuminatissimus MERR

Three new anthraquinone glycosides, lasianthuoside A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the root of Lasianthus acuminatissimus MERR., The structural elucidation of these anthraquinones was mainly established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and HR-MS spectroscopic analysis. Ten known compounds, damnacanthol (4), damnacanthol 11-methyl ether (5), damnacanthol-3-O-beta-D-primeveroside (6), asperuloside (7), asperulosidic acid (8), deacetyl asperulosidic acid (9), a nonglycosidic iridoid (10), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenol-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), tachioside (methoxyhydroquinone-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (12), and isotachioside (methoxyhydroquinone-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (13) were also identified for the first time from this plant in the course of the phytochemical and spectroscopic investigation. In addition to this report, a preliminary evaluation of 13 compounds in treating rheumatoid arthritis and antitumor effects of six anthraquinones are presented.     

Phenolic compounds from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens

One new C-methyl flavanone glucoside, farrerol 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Diplomorpha canescens (MEISN.) C. A. MEYER. Fourteen known phenolic compounds such as farrerol (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether 5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (-)-pinoresinol (4), (-)-lariciresinol (5), (-)-dihydrosesamin (6), (±)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), rutarensin (8), umbelliferone (9), coniferyl aldehyde (10), sinapyl aldehyde (11), p-coumaric acid methyl ester (12), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (13), p-hydroxyacetophenone (14) and syringaldehyde (15) were also isolated for the first time from this plant. Structure of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data including two dimensional (2D)-NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and by the application of Klyne's rule.     

Polyphenolic constituents of the flowers of Tamarix nilotica: The structure of nilocitin,a new digalloylglucose

The new compounds nilocitin (2,3-digalloyl-D-glucopyranose), methyl gallate 4-methyl ether and the known methyl gallate were isolated; nilocitin is the first example of a galloyl glucose not substituted at the anomeric position.     

Antibacterial and antifungal properties of crude extracts and isolated compounds from Lychnophora markgravii

Abstract

Antimicrobial activity of dichloromethane and ethanol extracts and five compounds: pinostrobin (I), pinocembrin (II), tectochrysin (III), galangin 3-methyl ether (IV) and tiliroside (V) isolated from Lychnophora markgravii aerial parts against fifteen microorganisms was determined. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Both extracts showed antimicrobial activity against several tested microorganisms. Pinostrobin, tectochrysin and galangin 3-methyl ether showed the strongest antibacterial and antifungal effects.     

Studies on Balanites aegyptiaca fruits, an antidiabetic Egyptian folk medicine

An aqueous extract of mesocarps of the fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca exhibited a prominent antidiabetic activity by oral administration in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. From one of the active fractions of this extract, two new steroidal saponins were isolated, and their structures were determined as 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-furost-5-ene-3 beta,22,26-triol 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1---- 3)]-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its 22-methyl ether. In addition, two known saponins, 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-furost-5-ene-3 beta,22,26-triol 3-O-(2,4-di-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its methyl ether were isolated and identified. It was revealed that the individual saponins did not show antidiabetic activity, while the recombination of these saponins resulted in significant activity. From an ethanolic extract of the epicarps, two known flavonol glycosides, isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside were isolated and identified.     

Anthraquinones with antiplasmodial activity from the roots of Rennellia elliptica Korth. (Rubiaceae)

Dichloromethane root extract of Rennellia elliptica Korth. showed strong inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro with an IC?? value of 4.04 μg/mL. A phytochemical study of the dichloromethane root extract has led to the isolation and characterization of a new anthraquinone, 1,2-dimethoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (1), and ten known anthraquinones: 1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (2), nordamnacanthal (3), 2-formyl-3-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (4), damnacanthal (5), lucidin-ω-methyl ether (6), 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (7), rubiadin (8), 3-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (9), rubiadin-1-methyl ether (10) and 3-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (11). Structural elucidation of all compounds was accomplished by modern spectroscopic methods, notably 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV and HREIMS. The new anthraquinone 1, 2-formyl-3-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (4) and 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (7) possess strong antiplasmodial activity, with IC?? values of 1.10, 0.63 and 0.34 μM, respectively.     

Bioactive aromatic derivatives from endophytic fungus, Cytospora sp

Two new benzyl gamma-butyrolactone analogues, (R)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (1) and its 6-acetate (2), and a new naphthalenone derivative (8), together with eight additional known aromatic derivatives, (S)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3), (S)-5-benzyl-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (4), 5-phenyl-4-oxopentanoic acid (5), gamma-oxo-benzenepentanoic acid methyl ester (6), 3-(2,5-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-phenyl-2-furyl)propionic acid (7), (3R)-5-methylmellein (9), integracins A (10) and B (11) were isolated from Cytospora sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from Ilex canariensis from Gomera. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, comparison with reported data, and chemical interconversion. The absolute configurations of the new compounds (1, 2, 8) were established on the basis of optical rotation or CD spectra analysis. Preliminary studies showed antimicrobial activity of these compounds against the fungi Microbotryum violaceum, Botrytis cinerea and Septoria tritici, the alga Chlorella fusca, and the bacterium Bacillus megaterium.     

Anthraquinones from the roots of Prismatomeris malayana

A novel anthraquinone, 1,3-dihydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methoxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (9) and a new natural product, 2-hydroxymethyl-1-methoxy-9,10-anthraquinone (8) were isolated from the roots of Prismatomeris malayana together with seven known anthraquinones, tectoquinone (1), 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (2), rubiadin (3), rubiadin-1-methyl ether (4), 1,3-dihydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (5), nordamnacanthal (6), and damnacanthal (7). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. Some of the anthraquinones were tested for anticancer, antifungal, and antimalarial activities.     

Natural anthraquinones probed as Type I and Type II photosensitizers: singlet oxygen and superoxide anion production

The photosensitizing properties of six anthraquinones (AQs): soranjidiol (1), soranjidiol-1-methyl ether (2), rubiadin (3), rubiadin-1-methyl ether (4), damnacanthal (5) and damnacanthol (6), isolated from leaves and stems of Heterophyllaea pustulata Hook. f. (Rubiaceae) were studied. By means of photobiological and photophysical methods in vitro, the type of photosensitization that these metabolites are capable of producing was determined. Whereas the photosensitized generation of superoxide anion radical (O(2)(-)) (Type I) was evaluated in leukocyte suspensions, singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)) production (Type II) was examined in organic solution. In addition, the quantum yield of (1)O(2) (Phi) in chloroform was measured for those AQs that generate it. It was established that 4 behaves exclusively as a Type I photosensitizer. By contrast, the others AQs act by both types of mechanisms, among which 5 showed the largest Phi of (1)O(2).     

Three New Bisabolocurcumin Ethers from the Rhizomes of Curcuma longa L.

Three new bisabolocurcumin ethers, named demethoxybisabolocurcumin ether ( 1 ), bisabolocurcumin ether ( 2 ), and didemethoxybisabolocurcumin ether ( 3 ), along with two known compounds, 4 and 5 , were isolated from the AcOEt extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. Their structures were established by the analysis of NMR and MS data. The new compounds 1 – 3 , which possess a new 1,7‐diarylheptanoid skeleton linked with a bisabolone‐type sesquiterpene substructure by a C? O bond, were found for the first time in a natural source.     

新型N-取代苯甲酰基-N′-(4-甲基苯并噻唑-2-基)硫脲衍生物的合成、晶体结构及抑菌活性

以取代苯甲酸和2-氨基-4-甲基苯并噻唑为原料合成5个新型N-取代苯甲酰基-N′-(4-甲基苯并噻唑-2-基)硫脲衍生物,化合物结构经元素分析、IR、1 H NMR和13 C NMR表征,X-射线单晶衍射测定了N-(4-甲氧苯甲酰基)-N′-(4-甲基苯并噻唑-2-基)硫脲(化合物1)的晶体结构,该晶体为单斜晶系,P21/c空间群,选择广西主要经济作物中常见的病原菌,对目标化合物进行室内抑菌活性测试,实验结果发现该类化合物具有一定的抑菌活性.     

New saponins from the seeds of Aesculus chinensis

Eight new acylated polyhydroxyoleanene triterpenoidal saponins, aesculiosides A-H (1-8), along with four known ones, have been isolated from the seeds of Aesculus chinensis. On the basis of extensive NMR studies, the structures of the new compounds were determined to be 21-O-tigloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]- beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl acid (1), 21-O-angeloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl acid (2), 21,22-O-ditigloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)][beta-d-glucopyranosyl- (1-->4)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl acid (3), 21-O-tigloyl-22-O-angeloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl acid (4), 21,22-O-ditigloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-methyl beta-d-glucuronopyranosate (5), 21-O-tigloyl-22-O-angeloylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-methy l beta-D-glucuronopyranosate (6), 21-O-tigloyl-28-O-acetylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-methy l beta-D-glucuronopyranosate (7) and 21-O-angeloyl-28-O-acetylprotoaescigenin 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-methy l beta-D-glucuronopyranosate (8).     

Isofuranonaphthoquinones from ventilago maderaspatana: Crystal structure of ventilone-C

From the root bark of Ventilago maderaspatana (Rhamnaceae) five isofuranonaphthoquinones have been isolated. Ventilone-A is 4,9-dihydro-5,8-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-1-methylnaphtho[2,3-c] furan-4,9-dione and B is the 5-methyl ether. Ventilone-C has the structure 1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-8-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6, 7-methylenedioxy-1-methylnaphtho[2,3-c]furan-4,9-dione, D is the isomeric 8-methyl ether, and E is the 5,8-dimethyl ether. Structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, and X-ray crystallographic analysis of ventilone-C.